Read about the A-F letter grades in this Austin-American Statesman article

The new A-F letter grade rating system is based heavily on state standardized test performance. While the final grading system goes into effect in August 2018, lawmakers required that school districts and campuses receive preliminary ratings based on the 2015-16 school year to give a glimpse of what ratings will reveal. The scores are not official or punitive and the accountability ratings doled out in August still stand. Instead, the Texas Education Agency’s preliminary report to the Legislature shows what letter grades schools and districts would have received for the 2015-16 school year if the rating system had been in place.

While in the future schools and districts will receive a single letter grade, that’s not the case for the preliminary grades. The Texas Education Agency is instead releasing four letter grades, each in a different category:

• How students perform on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness.

• How students improve on the STAAR year over year.

• How well students are prepared for careers and college after high school. The state is scoring elementary school students on this category based on how many of their students are chronically absent. Middle schools will also be scored on their drop out rates.

• How campuses and school districts close performance gaps between low-income and higher-income students.

Brazos River Charter School

It is interesting to note that, in Hood County, Granbury ISD is contesting the A-F grading system

In fact, quite a few districts in Texas are unhappy with this grading system (KERA)

Richardson ISD superintendent Jeannie Stone also has concerns about the new accountability system. Stone says the A-F system has been attempted and has failed elsewhere.

Stone issued the following statement:

“I don’t feel the A-F system will give parents and community members anything close to an accurate idea of how schools are performing. Assigning a letter grade, based substantially on the outcome of a standardized test taken on one day of the year, simply can’t capture the year-long efforts of students, teachers, principals and everyone who supports teaching and learning. Entire schools and communities will be painted with the brush of a single letter grade, even though individual students perform across a wide range of achievement levels on a number of different indicators."

And a statement from TASB (Texas Association of School Boards

The Texas Legislature's requirement to grade schools on an A-F scale is a flawed concept, and the preliminary ratings released to the public today fail to provide meaningful information about schools.

 

These new A-F ratings are just a symptom of the larger sickness: an unhealthy fixation on standardized testing and standardized expectations.

 

There are 1,028 school districts in Texas, and no two are exactly the same. Trying to apply the same accountability measures primarily based on one standardized test is a disservice to our kids, their families, and our educators.

 

It’s time the armchair educators stop trying to find new ways to sell tests, test preparation, and test administration. It’s time to consider our students and schools as more than just a grade.

Read about the A-F letter grades in this Austin-American Statesman article

The new A-F letter grade rating system is based heavily on state standardized test performance. While the final grading system goes into effect in August 2018, lawmakers required that school districts and campuses receive preliminary ratings based on the 2015-16 school year to give a glimpse of what ratings will reveal. The scores are not official or punitive and the accountability ratings doled out in August still stand. Instead, the Texas Education Agency’s preliminary report to the Legislature shows what letter grades schools and districts would have received for the 2015-16 school year if the rating system had been in place.

While in the future schools and districts will receive a single letter grade, that’s not the case for the preliminary grades. The Texas Education Agency is instead releasing four letter grades, each in a different category:

• How students perform on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness.

• How students improve on the STAAR year over year.

• How well students are prepared for careers and college after high school. The state is scoring elementary school students on this category based on how many of their students are chronically absent. Middle schools will also be scored on their drop out rates.

• How campuses and school districts close performance gaps between low-income and higher-income students.

Brazos River Charter School

It is interesting to note that, in Hood County, Granbury ISD is contesting the A-F grading system

In fact, quite a few districts in Texas are unhappy with this grading system (KERA)

Richardson ISD superintendent Jeannie Stone also has concerns about the new accountability system. Stone says the A-F system has been attempted and has failed elsewhere.

Stone issued the following statement:

“I don’t feel the A-F system will give parents and community members anything close to an accurate idea of how schools are performing. Assigning a letter grade, based substantially on the outcome of a standardized test taken on one day of the year, simply can’t capture the year-long efforts of students, teachers, principals and everyone who supports teaching and learning. Entire schools and communities will be painted with the brush of a single letter grade, even though individual students perform across a wide range of achievement levels on a number of different indicators."

And a statement from TASB (Texas Association of School Boards

The Texas Legislature's requirement to grade schools on an A-F scale is a flawed concept, and the preliminary ratings released to the public today fail to provide meaningful information about schools.

 

These new A-F ratings are just a symptom of the larger sickness: an unhealthy fixation on standardized testing and standardized expectations.

 

There are 1,028 school districts in Texas, and no two are exactly the same. Trying to apply the same accountability measures primarily based on one standardized test is a disservice to our kids, their families, and our educators.

 

It’s time the armchair educators stop trying to find new ways to sell tests, test preparation, and test administration. It’s time to consider our students and schools as more than just a grade.